As the thread states, I took some careful time and thought about my priorities and my vision for improving as a defensive shooter. My Sig GSR 1911 was a sweet piece and shot with absolute perfection....but honestly I came to the decision that I want to now place my focus on mastering my Glock26 9mm carry system.

I dont have funds that permit me to be a true gun "collector" so instead I will finally take up SD classes that Ive been putting off for some time now. I can now consistently hit 6" groups on standing paper targets from about 18 yards which is good for me....now its time to learn low light and high stress training at my local gun club.

Not trying to sway anyone one way or the other...but for those of you out there like me who have a few guns spread all over in terms of trigger actions, calibers, and sizes and still lack timing and accuracy with your shooting.....it might be wise to consolidate to a dominant caliber...master it....then possibly move up to a .45 later.

For me anyways, this makes the most sense. I will now have about $700 tp spend on ammo & gear

I do not disagree with the idea of getting down to one operating system. I like simple, for a self defense pistol I think this is about as simple as it gets:

Or this, double action first shot, single action thereafter, no flippers or levers to worry about. Especially no single action safety that you may bump on, when you want it off, or have on, when you really need it off.

Ive just come to the realization that shooting paper targets in a relaxed, standing environment is only half the battle. Ive read that even police with extensive training are still likely to fumble in a high stress situation. I dont wanna be the guy who hiccups at the wrong time and these SD classes really seem to have amazing results depending on the class and instructor.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I really like .45, but I've decided to get my skills shooting 9mm first. The primary reason though, is cost. As far as training ammo is concerned, at least where I live, .45 ACP costs almost twice what 9mm costs. From where I'm standing, that means I can do almost twice as much training with a 9mm than I can with a .45. In the future, when it's less about training (I'll never stop training, of course) I might switch, but for now it 9mm all the way.

Thanks Crow....I see the value now in investing in my dominant caliber....getting REALLY good with it....and excited to learn and absorb as much as possible in multiple areas and from multiple places. Both places offer a great variety of info.

My 45 ammo costs are barely more than my 9mm. Then again I cast and reload my own , so...

That helps, lol. I don't reload, so I'm stuck with what the manufacturers make me pay. On sale, I can get a box of 50 9mm for about $10. .45 on sale goes for right around $19-20 for 50. Assuming no sales, the prices go to about $13 and $25, respectively (and we're talking Blazer steel case here).

I've thought about reloading. Right now, unfortunately, I just don't have the room to do it. Eventually, when I get out of the place I'm living now and get my own place, I'll seriously consider putting in a reloading bench.

I just like guns too much to get down to one gun. I like my little J frames in 22 32 and 38. I like my model 10, my 357s, my Ruger 44 and 480, not to mention my 610. I like my baby Glocks, and my grown-up Glocks. And who doesn't like a 1911 or a Hi-Power?

SS215, take two steps to learning your G26.
Get an Advantage Arms .22 Conversion Kit. You will get everything when shooting except noise and recoil.
I always shoot a few rds. of full caliber,install the kit and shoot a lot of .22s, remove the kit and shoot another few rds. of full caliber. Doing it this way keeps me accustomed to the noise and recoil.

Second step is to get a Gas Powered Airsoft copy of your 26 and shoot it at home anytime you want.
Airsoft BB's are cheap and you can use Coleman Propane to power it at less than $3.00 per bottle. In warm temps, I can get over 6,000 shots from a bottle.

I think I saw your thread over on Pistol Training. It seems like good advice. Todd Green's "slow demonstration" of various techniques is faster than my actual attempt to do the same thing, so I tend to listen to stuff he says.

Yupp Snort I really enjoy both places for the variety of shooting info & SD training info. My new focus now that I have my dedicated 9mm carry system is to learn SD training. I will start locally at my local gun shop then try to branch out to the more nitty gritty courses.

I just want to be prepared for any circumstance, and shooting stationery targets from 15 yards is the furthest thing from real life crisis simulation.

I'm happy at this stage to have made up my mind to master the 9mm first. Then, Ill migrate to the 45 so I can be proficient in both calibers

You had a good 1911...and you dumped it for a Glock. That is all sorts of wrong.

But whatever floats your boat.

9mm is easy to reload. A simple Lee loader kit should cost around $20. Long term you'll save quite a bit of money and or learn to develop a load that your gun shoots the best.

6" at 18yds is ok. It doesn't put you in the top ranks of shooters though.
I'd suggest that competition shooting for a way to improve your shooting in the shortest amount of time.
Further if you can find a shooting team instead of individual, you will get all sorts of coaching free from your team mates.

Right on Buzz, and thats the direction I'm headed now. I wanna go from "decent" to awesome AND have the basic SD skills I would need in a bad situation.

I miss the hell out of the 1911 already, I do....but when I come back to the .45 I'll have the money for an even better model. I'll scoop up DW V-Bob in polished stainless and never think twice about the Sig.

Also I don't quite understand why your trying to master a Glock 26? I can understand the 17 or 19 but the 26? Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant by master.

At least your getting a V-bob to replace your Sig its a great gun. the finish isn't exactly a mirror polish or anything, its shiny and looks great though, just a heads up.

__________________E-Shock rounds are engineered to expend maximum energy into soft targets, turning the density mass into an expanding rotational cone of NyTrilium matrix particles, causing neurological collapse to the central nervous system.- Yeah I can do that.
I guarantee you will know it if a bicyclist hits your house going 1000 mph. -Smaug

Also I don't quite understand why your trying to master a Glock 26? I can understand the 17 or 19 but the 26? Perhaps I misunderstood what you meant by master.

Yeah...on the same boat of wondering. I think it's cause it's easiest for him to conceal. Which I understand...I don't know how he looks or anything. Everyone's different and body type matters a lot. I cannot carry a pocket pistol. I only carry full sized handguns.

This email link is to reach site administrators for assistance, if you cannot access TFL via other means. If you are a TFL member and can access TFL, please do not use this link; instead, use the forums (like Questions, Suggestions, and Tech Support) or PM an appropriate mod or admin.

If you are experiencing difficulties posting in the Buy/Sell/Trade subforums of TFL, please read the "sticky" announcement threads at the top of the applicable subforum. If you still feel you are qualified to post in those subforums, please contact "Shane Tuttle" (the mod for that portion of TFL) via Private Message for assistance.

This email contact address is not an "Ask the Firearms Expert" service. Such emails will be ignored. If you have a firearm related question, please register and post it on the forums.